Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 22 November 1952
Aircraft Type: Lisunov Li-2P
Owner/operator: TABSO
Registration Number: LZ-TUE
Location: 35 km ESE Etropole –
ÿ Bulgaria
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 30 / Occupants: 30
Component Affected: Aircraft ? specifically, the TABSO Lisunov Li-2 aircraft.Aircraft ? specifically, the TABSO Lisunov Li-2 aircraft.
Category: Accident
A TABSO Lisunov Li-2 crashed during poor weather conditions, resulting in the loss of all 30 occupants after departing from Sofia Airport, Bulgaria. The aircraft was flying from Sofia to Gorna Orechovitsa Airport (GOZ) and Varna Airport (VAR) due to a planned route to save fuel and time, utilizing a 15 km circle over the Stara Planina mountain range.A TABSO Lisunov Li-2 crashed during poor weather conditions, resulting in the loss of all 30 occupants after departing from Sofia Airport, Bulgaria. The aircraft was flying from Sofia to Gorna Orechovitsa Airport (GOZ) and Varna Airport (VAR) due to a planned route to save fuel and time, utilizing a 15 km circle over the Stara Planina mountain range.
Description
A TABSO Lisunov Li-2 crashed struck a mountain in poor weather after departure from Sofia Airport, Bulgaria, killing all 30 occupants The Li-2 operated on a flight from Sofia (SOF) to Gorna Orechovitsa Airport (GOZ) and Varna Airport (VAR), Bulgaria. At the time it is common practice to make a 15 km circle over Sofia, in order to gain a height of 1500 meters before continuing over the Balkan mountains (Stara Planina). The crew decided to fly directly to save fuel and time. Weather conditions were poor with snowfall and bas visibility as the airplane overflew the mountain range. It struck Mount Vezhen (2,198 m) some 20 metres below the summit.
Source of Information
https://www.airhistory.net/info/soviet.phphttps://www.airhistory.net/info/soviet.phpPrimary Cause
Poor weather conditions, including snowfall and reduced visibility, led to a direct impact with Mount Vezhen.Poor weather conditions, including snowfall and reduced visibility, led to a direct impact with Mount Vezhen.Share on:
